Metropole Hotel

History

1500: In his famous map of Venice, De Barbari, the celebrated Renaissance painter and engraver, included a building identifiable as the present-day Hotel Metropole.

1686: A chapel was added to the original building where Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) gave music lessons and from 1703 to 1740 composed his masterpieces: the Estro Armonico op.III, the Concertoes, and the Four Seasons.

1745: Restoration work began on the whole building. In September 1760, the new church was consecrated. Known as Santa Maria della Visitazione, or la Pietà, it was designed by Giorgio Massari and built next to the site of the hotel.

1880: A further major restoration transformed the building into a hotel known as “Casa Kirsch”

1895 Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, stayed at the hotel. He wrote to his wife Martha: “Don't expect me to send you much in the way of description. The thrill of being in Venice makes it impossible.”

1897: In the A. Muller's Pocket Guide to Venice and Its Surroundings, the hotel was listed as one of the best in town.

1900: Marcel Proust stayed at the Hotel and a year later, Thomas Mann booked a room for himself and his brother while writing Death in Venice.

1942-45: During this wartime period, the hotel was transformed into a hospital.

1954: The management by the Venetian Vittorio and Plinio Boscaro, which had begun in 1912, came to an end.

1968: Management of the prestigious hotel passed to Pierluigi and Elisabeth Beggiato, a traditional family of hoteliers who through the years have created a particularly fascinating atmosphere at the Metropole, devoting passion and determination to the art of welcoming guests.

1992: The Metropole expanded with the acquisition of the secret garden and the north wing. Ten new rooms and the helicoidal staircase dating from 1440 were opened to the public.

2000: Management by the Beggiato family passed to the daughter Gloria who, following the latest international trends, modernized the rooms with originality and sophistication, introducing a hint of mystery and oriental elegance to the look and style of the Metropole, and opening it up to a variety of cultural initiatives.

2005: For the first time in its history, the Met Restaurant was awarded a Michelin star, the highest of gastronomic accolades. Chef Corrado Fasolato's cuisine became a great hit in the lagoon city, winning favor with both food critics and with the general public.

2006: The Exclusive Suites were created, offering breathtaking views over the lagoon, luxury furnishings, and unexpected features. Each with its own totally distinctive character, they became the most luxurious and desirable rooms in the hotel.

2008: The Met Restaurant was enhanced by a major restyling, while the Oriental Bar, a magical Moroccan-styled corner, was moved to a highly atmospheric position in front of the lagoon. In recognition of the great attention to detail, service, and quality, the Metropole became a Five Star Hotel, among the most elegant in the city.

2009: The Met Restaurant won two famous awards, the Tre Forchette (Top Score) from the Gambero Rosso Guide and the second Michelin Star. Chef Corrado Fasolato became one of Italy’s top Chefs.

Metropole Hotel, a charter member of Historic Hotels Worldwide since 2011, dates back to 1500.